Abstract: A top-accessible system for simultaneously testing both sides of a printed circuit board includes a vertically movable top plate, upon which the circuit board may be rested, and a framed bottom plate which underlies the top plate and defines a vacuum chamber therewith. A mounting plate is pivoted to the upper side of the top plate for movement to a latched test position over the circuit board. A probe plate is movably carried by and is parallel to the underside of the mounting plate. With the mounting plate in its test position a cam structure thereon is operated to drive the probe plate transversely toward the circuit board to cause upper test pins on the probe plate to perpendicularly contact test points on the upper side of the circuit board, and cause hold-down members on the probe plate to contact the circuit board and firmly hold it against the top plate.

Abstract: A well packer for sealing an annular space within a well bore around a tubing string including a tubular mandrel, an expandable seal assembly on the mandrel for sealing around the mandrel with a well bore wall, a slip assembly on the mandrel for releasably locking the packer with the well bore wall, a drag spring and slip carrier assembly around the slip assembly, and an interlock assembly for selectively coupling the drag spring and slip carrier assembly with the mandrel for operating the packer through running, set, and release modes. The interlock assembly includes running segments movable a limited distance on the mandrel to prevent jamming of the packer parts in response to mandrel rotation in a non-setting direction. The interlock assembly also includes locking segments having structure to fully seat the segments on the mandrel under load and to minimize packer element compression loss during setting.

Abstract: A fuel-fired water heater has a plurality of bottom end legs which hold the bottom end of the heater a few inches above the floor, and a fuel burner positioned directly above a combustion air inlet in the bottom end of the heater body. To assure that all combustion air delivered to the burner is taken from a height at least 18" above the floor, a bottom end portion of the water heater is positioned within a floor supported, horizontally enlarged drain pan which vertically extends to at least 18" above the floor. In one embodiment thereof, the drain pan has an open top through which combustion air enters and is drawn downwardly to the bottom air inlet of the heater, and in another embodiment the drain pan top is closed off and combustion air is ducted into the pan from a remote, higher location. The pan has an outlet fitting which may be connected to a pipe or hose to drain away any water leaking from the water heater, or from closely adjacent piping and/or fittings connected thereto.

Abstract: A dual bin paper feed tray is removably insertable into the standard height tray-receiving housing opening of an image reproduction machine such as a printer or copier. The tray has adjacent front and rear paper holding bin areas each configured to hold a stack of approximately 250 cut paper sheets, the overall tray thus being adapted to hold the entire contents of a standard one ream package of cut paper sheets. In operation, the loaded tray is inserted, front end first, into the housing opening and the machine's paper feed system operates to sequentially feed paper sheets from the front tray bin into the machine. When the machine's paper sensing system detects that the front bin has been emptied, a drive motor on the rear end of the tray is energized to activate a shift structure which operates to move the rear paper stack into the front tray bin for infeed to the machine.

Abstract: A dual lumen catheter member having distal and proximal end portions is configured to be longitudinally passed entirely through a hollow needle member insertable into the epidural space of a patient, and is provided on its distal end with an inflatable balloon element. With the needle member inserted, the distal catheter end is passed therethrough into the epidural space. The needle member is then withdrawn and removed from the catheter member past its proximal end. The proximal end of the catheter member is then removably inserted into an inlet fitting and frictionally locked therein. The installed inlet fitting defines sealingly separated outward extensions of the lumen inlets which are spaced longitudinally apart on the proximal catheter end portion. Pressurized fluid is injected into one of these inlet extensions to inflate the balloon element, and an anesthetic fluid is flowed into the other extension, and through its associated lumen, into the epidural space through the distal catheter end therein.

Abstract: A tube connector includes a pair of matching press members, each having an enlarged exposed portion and at least two angularly spaced insert portions extending from the exposed portion. The insert portions of one press member form cylindrical members with the insert portions of the other press member. Each cylindrical member formed is inserted into one end of a respective tube such that a distal end of the respective tube abuts against the exposed portion of the press members. The exposed portion of each press member is provided with a counterbore having a truncated conical portion and a cylindrical portion. The head portion of a bolt and a nut, which engages the threaded shaft portion of the bolt, are each received in the truncated conical portion of the counterbore in a respective one of the press members.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for inhibiting the corrosion of a tendon within a post-tensioning anchor plate assembly. A tubular extension member protects the tendon and includes a foam injection port which is adapted for the injection of foam material to inhibit tendon corrosion, when it is sealed against the anchor plate. The tubular extension member further includes a circumferential ring disposed therearound providing a water stop to the infiltration of moisture after construction of the post-tensioning assembly. An anchor plate cap is also provided for covering the terminal end of the post-tensioned tendon. The cap is constructed with a radially extending ridge disposed along the inner edge for interlocking engagement with the anchor plate. A round die cut foam insert is provided in the cap to seal the terminal end of the tendon.

Abstract: A system for the synchronization of encryption and decryption in a duplex cellular radio system in which an encrypted call may be switched from one cell to another. At the instant of handoff, a rapid first resynchronization means temporarily seizes the voice channel in one direction only and transmits synchronization information in such one direction. The first resynchronization means ceases to transmit the synchronization information and releases such one direction of the voice channel as soon as an indicator of successful resynchronization is detected in the other direction. Transmission of speech traffic in such one direction is then resumed after such detection of successful resynchronization.

Abstract: Method of and apparatus for vapor-liquid contact utilizing louvered structured packing. The packing is provided in corrugated sheets and between the fold lines of the corrugations, a plurality of large louvered openings are disposed in generally parallel spaced relationship. An array of small louvers is disposed between the large louvers. Each of the louvers is oriented for selectively vectoring the flow of liquid and/or vapor around and through the corrugated sheets when disposed within a process tower.

Abstract: A plating rack for use in electroplating at least one substrate includes a rack body onto which the subtrate may be placed; a metal ring connected to the rack body so as to surround a substrate placed on the rack body; and bistable, single-tipped cam assemblies for holding a placed substrate in place and for making electrical contact between the metal ring and the substrate.

Abstract: An elastic force reducing balance and dynamometer comprising a primary spring and a secondary spring which are stressed by bending when an input force is exerted. In at least one of the primary and secondary springs, at least one bar is formed which is stressed, at least partially, by torsion. In this manner, the overall creep of the balance and dynamometer is substantially reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: The projecting underside connector portions on an electrical component are removably connected to surface mounted electrical contact points on one side of a printed circuit board using a specially designed interconnect device. The interconnect device includes a support board through which a spaced series of openings transversely extend, the openings being alignable with the component connector portions and the surface mounted contact points. Barrel portions of longitudinally resilient, electrically conductive connector pin members are anchored within the support board openings and have recessed first end portions positioned adjacent a first side of the support board and configured to removably receive and firmly hold the electrical component connector portions. Projecting outwardly beyond the second side of the support board are spring-loaded, longitudinally depressible second end portions of the connector pin members.

Abstract: A printing machine, such as a copier or a printer, is provided with an electrophotographic engine cartridge including a toner cartridge, a rotatable photoconductor drum, and a specially designed magnetic brush development module. The development module utilizes a rotating magnetic roller, disposed in a developer sump, to transport a toner carrier developer material toward a side surface portion of the rotating drum onto which the toner portion of the transported developer is electrically transferred. The development module is operated in a unique closed loop fashion by the action of a specially designed blade member which strips away the toner-depleted developer from the roller and causes it to enter a recycling well. The depleted developer is transferred from the recycling well into the developer sump wherein it is mixed with toner entering the sump from the toner cartridge, and then re-applied, in the form of reconstituted developer, to the magnetic roller for subsequent toner transfer to the rotating drum.

Abstract: Apparatus for monitoring the operating performance of a vehicle. The vehicle speed, engine operating speed and manifold pressure of the vehicle are compared to corresponding preset threshold values. The total time during which each of the vehicle speed, engine operating speed and manifold pressure exceed its threshold value is recorded and provided to the driver in a real-time display. The total time during which the engine is operating and the total time during which the engine is idling are also recorded and provided to the driver in a real time display.

Abstract: An improved bearing structure for a rod which permits both rotational and axial movement of the rod in conjunction with longitudinal bending thereof. Two semi-cylindrical pieces are assembled along an axial line of separation. A first cylindrical bearing half engages a second cylindrical bearing half integrally formed for matingly receiving the first half. The two halves of the bearing each include an outer, radially extending flange and are each passed through opposite sides of an aperture in a wall and are assembled into a complete bearing by threadably engaging one another within the wall aperture. The rod to be journaled is inserted through an axial opening formed through the bearing. Each semi-cylindrical bearing half is constructed with an expansion slot formed in an outer mounting flange for facilitating the flexure thereof during installation to prevent binding of the actuation rod therein.

Abstract: An improved bumper for a fussball game table constructed with a plurality of apertures for improving the energy dissipation thereof. Each bumper is constructed of solid rubber in a generally cylindrical configuration having a central aperture formed therethrough for snugly receiving an actuation rod therein. The walls of the bumper include a plurality of apertures formed axially therethrough for removing mass therefrom. The apertures reduce the structural strength of the rubber bumper and increase its longitudinal compressibility to permit a harder, more reliable rubber to be utilized with sufficient energy absorptive characteristics for dissipating forces generated in the use of the actuation rods of the fussball game table.

Abstract: A solenoid operated valve system for petroleum production wells including a solenoid operated valve securable in a well bore connected to the lower end of a tubing string extending to the surface. The valve of the system includes an outer housing, an inner wall defining a flow passageway therethrough and an annular cavity therebetween for receiving the solenoid coil and associated electrical components. The spaces in the annular cavity surrounding the solenoid coil and components is filled with an electrically insulative filler material to protect the electrical elements from borehole fluids. The solenoid operated valve has an operator tube formed of tubular sections of different magnetic characteristics so that the valve is opened against a biasing spring by a high current flow and held open by a current flow of a lower value. The valve solenoid is operable by either AC or DC current.

Abstract: A pipe restraining mechanism for use in a pipe retainer gland to secure the gland on a pipe such as PVC pipe and ductile iron pipe including a housing forming a part of the retainer gland and having a pocket therein opening inside of the gland, a wedge operator member on the top wall of the housing, and a pipe gripping wedge in the housing pocket having inside teeth for engagement with the outer surface of a pipe and adapted to be initially mechanically pressed into a pipe surface by the operator member and thereafter fully engaged with the pipe surface responsive to hydraulic pressure in the pipe causing a wedging action with the operator member and thereafter a turning action between the wedge and a housing surface to drive the wedge teeth into the pipe surface and seat the wedge on the pipe surface.

Abstract: An adjustable picture hanger including a fixed length or a two-piece, adjustable, horizontal bar formed of two bar members having longitudinal slots and secured together by screw assemblies through the slots, holes in opposite ends of the horizontal bar for attaching the horizontal bar to a wall surface, and two vertical, horizontally spaced bars each having longitudinal slots and attached with screw assemblies to the horizontal bar members through the longitudinal slots in the horizontal bar members for vertical and horizontal adjustment of the vertical bars, and a picture hanger bracket screw along the upper end portion of each of the vertical bars for hanging the picture having two spaced hanger brackets along the back of the picture. The adjustable picture hanger may be made of lathe members which are rectangular in cross section or may be constructed of channel-shaped members forming either the horizontal and/or the vertical bars.